Chapter Two- Surprising Change
Atticus blinked his eyes open around noon, grateful that classes had been cancelled while the astronomy event was going on. His thoughts turned to his report on shooting stars; as luck would have it a cascade of shooting stars would come through tonight. An excellent time to get a video and maybe some pictures of it. He had noticed his sister taking pictures of that nebula in front of the moon. It was certainly pretty; almost magical, he thought. His stomach growled and he decided to get some lunch and maybe do some preliminary research on his report after all. He rolled onto his side, arched his back, and got out of bed.
He knew something was wrong when he looked down and saw a large pair of breasts on his chest. "What?" he said and a hand flew to his mouth. He sounded like Alexis! He went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and screamed. Alexis stared back at him! Oh, hell! I'm in Alexis' body! How did this happen? He or rather she, continued to stare into her hazel eyes and then down to her chest. The guy in her made her run her fingers over her breasts. She always noticed them on Alexis and other girls but never felt them as it came across as inappropriate and she was no pervert. A sudden thought made her eyes widen. Wait a minute. If I'm in Alexis' body, then that means…oh, boy.
Alexis rolled out of bed and immediately noticed how heavily her feet hit the floor. She usually got out of bed lightly. She looked around and gaped. This isn't my room, it's Atti's room. "Atticus?" she called and then she put a hand to her throat. She sounded like her brother! She felt a bump on her throat and after feeling it, concluded it was an Adam's apple. Swallowing hard, she looked down, saw a flat chest, and screamed. I have Atticus' body! And if I'm him, then he's me. I need to talk to him…or is that she since he's in my body? Yeah, Atti's a she right now and I'm a he.
Alexis dressed quickly, not wanting to see his body naked for long, combed his hair, and left the dorm for the cafeteria. He paced outside it, marveling at the comfortable feel of a boy's uniform and the stride with which he moved. A couple of girls passed him and he smiled in greeting. They blushed and giggled as they entered the cafeteria and Alexis face-palmed. He had momentarily forgotten whose body he had. He looked up in time to see his real body hurrying up the hall, feet stumbling slightly possibly due to the heels on the boots. He came closer and dropped his voice to a softer tone. "Atti."
Atticus followed his example. "Lexi. I swear I had nothing to do with this."
"You may want to amend that statement," Alexis said as they started to walk away.
"Huh?"
"It's both of our faults. If you recall, we both started sentences with the words, 'If I were you.'"
Atticus nodded. "I remember thinking it further after our talk."
"I did, too. But merely speaking and thinking such thoughts wouldn't be enough to switch us. There has to be something else."
"Maybe something during the astronomy event last night?" Atticus suggested.
"Could be. Atti, get all my astronomy books and meet me at the fountain outside."
Atticus nodded again before walking away, stumbling still. Alexis sighed as he headed for the fountain. It seemed Atticus was having a harder time being a girl than he was being a boy. I just have to remember not to be too friendly with girls as it may come across as flirting which is what I promised to do less if I was in his body. Well, now I am and I need to make good on my promise.
Atticus hurried back to the girls' dorm, stumbling as she did. She couldn't believe how hard she found it to be wearing a girl's uniform and shoes. The skirt seemed a little too short and why did the boots have to have heels, albeit small ones? Being a girl is harder than I thought, she mused as she entered Alexis' room and gathered up the astronomy books that had been neatly stacked on the desk. However, as I'm in Lexi's body, I could make good on the promise I made to myself. Yes, once we learn how this happened and provided the solution is not immediate, I'll start improving her love life by talking to Jaden.
She headed for the fountain to see her…brother (?) waiting for her. She put the books on the grass and as she sat, said, "Lexi, does this mean that you're my brother right now?"
"I suppose so," he answered. "Which makes you my sister. I had already decided that I'm male as I have your body." He picked up a book.
"Yeah, I was thinking of myself as female." She, too, grabbed a book.
Alexis turned to the page he had marked last night, concerning the nebula he had decided to report on. It was a rare nebula and when it passed in front of other celestial bodies, magical effects could be unleashed. For example, if it was in front of a planet, anyone standing in the light of the nebula and the planet would change gender until the astronomical event was over. But if in front of the full moon, it was a different story.
"Atti, it was the light of the nebula and the full moon combined with our statements that switched us."
"How do we change back? Or can we?"
"We must understand the cause of our switch before the event ends. If not, we'll be stuck like this forever."
"Forever?" Atticus gasped. "I don't want to be stuck as a girl."
"Well, we'll have to understand one another's views on romance and flirting. Atti, we shouldn't tell anyone about this. We'll need to act like each other. That may also help us understand each other, too."
"So to understand one another, we have to act like each other."
"Yes and I mean truly act, not a mockery of it." The look he gave Atticus was clear: No making fun of Alexis' study habits and lack of romantic life.
"Fine, as long as you don't make sport of me."
"Deal."
"So," Atticus said slowly. "You really have no interest in romance?"
"Not in the way you were going about it. I will choose my own interests, not have you fixing me up with someone."
Atticus arched an eyebrow. "You have a crush, Lexi?"
Alexis felt like blushing but reined that in as Atticus would not blush. "It's…Jaden."
Atticus' eyes widened and then she grinned. "I knew it! I thought that might be the case. The two of you would make a cute couple."
"Atti, Jaden's oblivious to romance."
"I guess you're right. So, are there any books here with plenty of information on shooting stars?"
"Yeah. Right here." Alexis extracted a book and held it out to his sister. As she took it, Alexis asked, "Do you need any help?"
"Actually, yeah. I had planned to video the pouring of shooting stars tonight and get some pictures."
"I can handle that. So, think you can takes some more pictures of the nebula against the moon for me?"
"I can do that."
"Okay." Alexis watched Atticus gather up the books and walk away, not comfortable wearing boots. He sighed. Great; because of an astronomical phenomena and casual statements, Atti and I switched bodies. Now we have two days and nights to understand the other's view on romance and flirting or remain as we are forever. I personally want my real body back as comfortable as a boy's uniform is. I'd rather not live as Atticus for the rest of my life. It is still strange to hear Atti's voice when I talk. I know Atticus doesn't want to be a girl for life much less live as me. Now, how best to understand Atticus' flirting?
